As we get off the bus in central Larnaca and walk to our flat, I’ve seen another ten cats.

It’s this a cat city and humans are just living in it?

Unfortunately, Larnaca has a huge stray cat population. You’ll see bowls of cat food out in the streets as you walk and you’ll probably have a stray cat as a companion if you eat outside at a restaurant.

We went to Hala Sultan Tekke and found around 20 in a nearby building. Apparently it’s the place where people abandon cats. Quite a few were only kittens too. Many were constantly itching from all the flies surrounding them.

There is no government funding for the stray cats unfortunately. Sandy’s Place cat sanctuary has opened recently in and has taken some of cats from Hala Sultan Tekke.

I decided to give the cats I took photos of a name and introduce them to you.

Fonzie/Henry Winker – too cool for school, ladies cat.Baby-face Killa – don’t let that cute look fool you, she’ll rip your eyes out if you cross herBonnie and Clyde – always on the lookout for their next (food) robberyFleetwood Mac – a love squareScare D – convinced he’s going to get whacked any day nowEyes – oversees the whole operation, nothing gets past himSpeedy – he might look lackadaisical, but believe you me, he can get out of a tight situation fastThe night crew – carrying out the hits in the dead of nightRomeo and Juliet – they shouldn’t have drank the poison